According to the European Abortion Policy Atlas 2025, Sweden (94.6%), France (85.2%) and the Netherlands (80.3%) rank the highest in the European Union.
The scores given to these countries are related to abortion, wide range of services availability, national health insurance, government-led online information, and strong legal protections against misinformation.
In contrast, 3.7% Malta and 18.6% Poland remain at the bottom of the rankings, with abortions being primarily criminalized with strict penalties and limited access to clinical care.
In general, countries in Northern and Western Europe are ranked better in Atlas.
However, the sexual and reproductive health and rights experts who developed the Atlas warned that “women in rural areas have different access than women in urban areas.”
Since the previous edition of 2021, 15 countries have made progress.
For example, France has made abortion a constitutional right, while Luxembourg and the Netherlands have removed mandatory waiting periods.
Meanwhile, Denmark extended the restrictions to 18 weeks, while Lithuania legalized medical abortion.
Still, only Finland, France and Ireland allow abortion care via telehealth, while 13 member states fully cover abortion with national health insurance.
Importantly, Denmark, Estonia, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Sweden are the only EU countries to have a completely decriminalized abortion despite being recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).
“I think it’s important to point out that this idea of a complete decriminalization is not something that’s left-handed feminist who comes out of nowhere.
Negative trends include new restrictions in Italy, Malta and Slovakia, including increased harassment by abortion providers and spreading state-driven disinformation. These phenomena make it more difficult for individuals to access abortion services.
For example, in 2024, Italy passed a law that would allow pro-life groups to access abortion clinics.
Sweden and France are the only countries where governments and public institutions take action against abortion disinformation.
The study, produced by the EPF with national organizations and national experts, collected data in 49 European countries and regions.
Data were analyzed with four key criteria: legal status, access, clinical care and service delivery, and information.
This year’s Atlas also included subcategories such as telehealth, locations where abortion is offered, and levels of legal protection.
